CHRC Report: Impact of Inequality on Aboriginal People in Canada

OTTAWA, June 17, 2013 /CNW/ - The impact of persistent conditions of
disadvantage on the daily lives of Aboriginal people is documented in a
new report released by the Canadian Human Rights Commission today.

Entitled Equality Rights Data Report on Aboriginal People, and based primarily on data collected by Statistics Canada, the report
compares Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people across a spectrum of
indicators, including education, employment, economic well-being,
health and housing.

These comparisons confirm the persistence of barriers to equality of
opportunity faced by Aboriginal people.

The report shows that, compared to non-Aboriginal people, Aboriginal
people living in Canada:

have lower median after-tax income;

are more likely to collect employment insurance and social assistance;

are more likely to experience physical, emotional or sexual abuse;

are more likely to be victims of violent crimes; and

are more likely to be incarcerated and less likely to be granted parole.

The report provides as comprehensive a statistical portrait as can be
drawn from available data. Aboriginal people living off reserve are
better represented in statistical surveys. On reserves, the gaps are
significant. In some cases, data is simply not available.

The report compiles a number of studies from 2005 to 2010. It is
distinct from and should not be confused with the 2011 National
Household Survey released last month by Statistics Canada.

The Canadian Human Rights Commission expects to repeat this exercise in
future years to monitor change in the well-being of Aboriginal people
in Canada.